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Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Henrico County, VA

Last verified: March 2026 · Report an update

Zoning & Conditions

Short-term rentals are allowed only in the owner’s primary residence and only in One-Family Residence Districts (R-0 through R-4A) and the A-1 Agricultural District; not permitted in townhouse or multifamily districts. Hosted stays (owner present) in the principal dwelling are allowed by right if the lot has at least 80 feet of street frontage, no more than six renters occupy the property at a time, and total rental days do not exceed 60 per calendar year; other situations (unhosted stays, guesthouses, >6 guests, <80 ft frontage, >60 days/yr) require a conditional use permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Additional requirements include minimum 1-day rental periods, check-in/out between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm, life-safety equipment per building code, posting of address/contact/emergency info inside the dwelling, a designated responsible adult to respond to complaints, a limit of three pets, and recordkeeping to provide records to County on request.

How to Obtain a Permit

1) Determine zoning eligibility: if the rental meets hosted-by-right criteria no zoning approval is required; otherwise apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Conditional Use Permit (public hearing, neighbor notification). 2) Complete the County’s two-phase registration: zoning approval (when required) and online short-term residential registry via Henrico’s Permit Center/finance pages. 3) Pay the stated registry fee ($200 annual registry fee); if a Conditional Use Permit is required, pay the $300 CUP application fee.

Official Resources

Official Henrico County STR regulation source

Frequently Asked Questions

Are short-term rentals allowed in Henrico County, VA?
Short-term rentals are allowed only in the owner’s primary residence and only in One-Family Residence Districts (R-0 through R-4A) and the A-1 Agricultural District; not permitted in townhouse or multifamily districts. Hosted stays (owner present) in the principal dwelling are allowed by right if the lot has at least 80 feet of street frontage, no more than six renters occupy the property at a time, and total rental days do not exceed 60 per calendar year; other situations (unhosted stays, guesthouses, >6 guests, <80 ft frontage, >60 days/yr) require a conditional use permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Additional requirements include minimum 1-day rental periods, check-in/out between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm, life-safety equipment per building code, posting of address/contact/emergency info inside the dwelling, a designated responsible adult to respond to complaints, a limit of three pets, and recordkeeping to provide records to County on request.
Is a permit required to operate a short-term rental in Henrico County?
Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Henrico County. 1) Determine zoning eligibility: if the rental meets hosted-by-right criteria no zoning approval is required; otherwise apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Conditional Use Permit (public hearing, neighbor notification). 2) Complete the County’s two-phase registration: zoning approval (when required) and online short-term residential registry via Henrico’s Permit Center/finance pages. 3) Pay the stated registry fee ($200 annual registry fee); if a Conditional Use Permit is required, pay the $300 CUP application fee.
How do I get a short-term rental permit in Henrico County?
1) Determine zoning eligibility: if the rental meets hosted-by-right criteria no zoning approval is required; otherwise apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Conditional Use Permit (public hearing, neighbor notification). 2) Complete the County’s two-phase registration: zoning approval (when required) and online short-term residential registry via Henrico’s Permit Center/finance pages. 3) Pay the stated registry fee ($200 annual registry fee); if a Conditional Use Permit is required, pay the $300 CUP application fee.

Disclaimer

This information is for general reference only and may not reflect the most current regulations. STR regulations change frequently. Always verify requirements with official local government sources before operating a short-term rental.

Last verified: March 2026 · Suggest a correction